Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. The Virginia Cooperative Extension provides programs and information covering the broad areas of agriculture, families and 4-H. Our goal is to help our citizens maintain and improve the quality of their environment.

More About Our Programs

Agriculture and natural resources (ANR) programs help sustain the profitability of agricultural and forestry production and enhance and protect the quality of our land and water resources. ANR programs are directed toward a broad range of needs associated with the production of animals, food crops, greenhouse and nursery products, turf, and forests; the financial management of agricultural enterprises; and the protection of the environment.

Virginia Master Gardeners are volunteer educators who work enhance the well-being of people, plants and the environment through science-based gardening education and community outreach. Master Gardeners bring the resource of Virginia's land grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University to the people of the commonwealth.

4-H stands for Head, Hands, Heart and Health, and uses more than a century of experience in youth development programming to build strong, confident leaders. 4-H programs help youth develop skills that last a lifetime. Our educational programs help young people learn leadership, citizenship and a wide variety of other life skills. We offer after school enrichment programs, community-based programs, community clubs and camps where 4-H members pledge to build a better community, country and world. 4-H is characterized as being community centered, volunteer led, Extension staff supervised, research based, home and family orientated, publically and privately funded, and responsive to change.

Virginia Cooperative Extension views the family unit as the cornerstone of a healthy community. We strive to improve the well-being of Chesterfield residents through programs that help participants put research-based knowledge to work in their lives. Our holistic approach to strengthening families, including those with limited resources, assists youth and adult participants in developing wellness life skills related to health, diet, and nutrition, exercise, family financial management, and parenting. By participating in our educational programs, participants become healthier, more productive citizens who further contribute to Virginia's social and economic stability.

The Family Nutrition Program provides nutrition and healthy lifestyle education to limited-resource adults, young families and youth in Chesterfield County. The program is funded in part by the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) grant. Our mission is to help families and youth make healthier food choices and become better managers of available food resources for optimal health and growth. Participants will learn about making healthy choices, valuable food preparation skills, and how to become more active.

The program is available to adults and families receiving or eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or other qualifying government assistance programs.

For Youth: Nutrition curriculum resources and training are available to schools and community organizations serving low income youth.